Moral Psychology of Confucian Shame

Bongrae Seok is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Alvernia University, USA. He is the author of Embodied Moral Psychology and Confucian Philosophy (2013).

• Part I: Shame and Morality / 1. Unashamed Introduction to Shame / Part II: Psychology of Shame / 2. Unity and Diversity of Shame / 3. Social and Moral Evolution of Shame / Part III: Confucian Shame / 4. Confucian Shame and Moral Excellence / 5. Confucian Shame and the Moral Self / Bibliography / Index

Bongrae Seok takes the neglected virtue of shame--so common in the Confucian tradition and yet commonly undervalued and even denigrated in Western moral psychology--and argues convincingly for a new appreciation of it.  In a wide-ranging and yet nuanced argument, Seok methodically engages the literature of evolutionary psychology, Ancient Greek moral theory, current experimental and clinical psychology, current philosophical moral psychology, and most importantly, early Confucian theories of ethics and self-cultivation.  His conclusion is that shame is a rich, multi-dimensional ethical emotion that deserves more attention from philosophers and psychologists.  One begins to wonder from his analysis if shame may be a necessary component of any complete system of moral competence.  In his ability to deftly handle a diversity of sources with insight and acumen, Seok has few peers.